Study finds air pollution impairs focus and emotional recognition

Short-term exposure to air pollution can weaken concentration and affect emotional recognition, according to a new study published in Nature Communications. Researchers tested 26 participants before and after they were exposed to either high levels of particulate matter (PM) from candle smoke or clean air for an hour.

The results showed that those exposed to PM struggled more with selective attention and recognizing emotions, regardless of how they breathed. Dr. Thomas Faherty of the University of Birmingham, a co-author of the study, noted that air pollution may make people more prone to distractions, impacting daily tasks like shopping and decision-making.

Participants also performed worse in identifying emotions such as fear and happiness, which researchers suggest could have social and behavioral consequences. However, the study found that working memory remained unaffected, indicating that some cognitive functions are more resilient to pollution.

With air pollution linked to millions of premature deaths annually, researchers say the findings have broader implications for education, work productivity, and public health, particularly for vulnerable groups.